Vending machine



NOV. 21, 1933. s LOVE 1,936,515

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VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25. 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Nov. 21,1933 PATEN'E OFFICE 1,936,515- 'VENDING MACHINE Sandy H. Love, Detroit,Mich, 'assignor ofonethird to James 0. Henderson, Detroit, Mich.

Application October 23, 1930'. Serial No. 490,737

6 Claims. (01. 194-57) This invention relates to a vending machineprimarily but not necessarily adapted for use in connection with bottledgoods.

An important object is to provide a means whereby bottled goods,preferably an assortment,

may be sold in a vending machine, wherein incidental to the vending of afilled bottle, a check will be ejected and wherein such check willenable a coin representing the value of the bottle,

to be returned upon placing the empty bottle back into an appropriatepart of the machine.

Another object is to provide a novel construction of coin controlledmeans associated with a dispensing member, movement of which andassociated parts, not only effects a vending operation but also ejects acheck or the like adapted to be returned with the empty bottle into themachine so as to receive a coin representing the value of the emptybottle.

A further object is to provide a machine having means adapted to receivean empty bottle, previously vended, with meansto move the bottle intothe machine and through such movement to cause ejection of a propercoin, in the presence of a proper check, representing the value of thebottle.

Various additional objects and advantages, principally more specific,will become apparent from a consideration of the description followingtaken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operativeembodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine,

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof,

35 Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 3,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure2,

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5,

Figure '7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 5,

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 5,

Figure 9 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 9--9 of Figure 5,

Figure 10 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 1010 of Figure 5,

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line l11l ofFigure 2,.

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 1212 of Figure1,

Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Figure1, and

Figure 14 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 14-14 ofFigure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the ma- 80 chine comprises asuitable cabinet at 10 providing a refrigerating space, adapted tocontain ice or be refrigerated in any other desired manner and in whichspace, one or any suitable number of containers 11 are disposed in whichbottled 05 goods 12 are laid in a single vertical row, one-upon anotheras best shown in Figure 3. The bottled goods are supplied to thecontainers 11 through suitable doors l2, hinged as at 13 to the front ofthe cabinet and which doors are adapted to be locked in any suitablemanner so as to be capable of being opened by the proprietor alone. Eachdoor 12 has a glass or other transparent panel 14 therein so that thecontents may be viewed. A signal plate 15 is located in each compartment11 and'mounted by spring hinge means at 16, normally urging the same toa position where it may be viewed through the panel 14 and which signalpreferably contains the word Empty or the like thereon. When thecompartments 11 are full or substantially full, the signal plate 15 isheld down as in Figure 3 but when the contents become depleted, thebottles move out of engagement with the sign plate, thus releasing thesame so that the spring hinge 16 will move it into the position shown inFigure 2, thus signalling or notifying a prospective customer that thecompartment is empty or nearly so.

The ice or refrigerant may be supplied to the cabinet 10 through thetop, which is normally closed by one or more hinged covers or the like17, the hinges being shown 'at 18 and secured to the covers and to thecabinet.

The containers 11 are open at their lower ends and adjacent such ends,dispensing trays or members 19 are disposed, such members having asubstantially semi-circular wall at 20 which is engaged by the lowermostbottle in each compartment. Such trays have end walls at 21 and 22, fromwhich shafts or trunnions 23 and 24, extend in opposite directions, theformer being journaled in alongitudinal wall 25 of the cabinet. Shaft 24is adapted to be turned, under appropriate coin control, one hundred andeighty degrees counterclockwise in order to dispense one of the bottles12. The dispensed bottles, falling from the trays 19, engage a forwardlyand downwardly inclined wall 27, below the compartment, guiding thebottle to the'front of the machine and into a tray 28, or the like, fromwhich they may be removed by the purchaser. Below the wall 2'7, areceptacle R is provided for empty bottles, means for returning thebottles thereto being hereinafter specifically described. The cabinet 10preferably has four supporting legs as shown at 29, the same mountingthe cabinet proper, wall 2'7, receptacle R and associated parts.

Associated with each compartment 11 is a coin controlled mechanism 30,the same having a casing 31 to mount the various parts thereof and whichis suitably secured to the front wall of the cabinet. Said shaft 24extends completely through and is journaled in the walls of the casingand at the front thereof preferably has an operating crank 32 securedthereto. Normally operation of the crank 32 or shaft 24 counterclockwisewill not vend a bottle because a lug 33 is carried by the shaft 24 and adetent 35 is in its path of movement. Said detent is pivoted as at 36 toa bracket 37 suitably supported in the casing 31 (Figures 5, 6 and 9).

A lifting lever 38 is provided in order to elevate the detent 35 intothedotted line position shown in Figure 9, so as not to interfere with thelug 33 upon turning the shaft 24. Such lever comprises an arm 39arranged at right angles to the detent'35 and beneath and in engagementtherewith. Rig'id with the arm 39 is a rod 40 which is journaled on abracket 38, suitably secured within thecasing 31 and which preferablymounts the bracket 37. Said lifting lever 38 is urged to the positionshown in Figure 10 by a blade spring 41 suitably fastened within thecasing 31.

Rod 40 has a depending crank at 42 having an abutment block 43 on thelower end thereof. The crank 42 is adapted to be rocked by coincontrolled means in order to raise and lower the detent 35 and thusgovern vending operation.

Ahorizo-ntally arranged channel 44 is supported on a shelf 45 withineach casing 31 and a coin deposit chute 46, communicates with theinterior thereof through a slot 47 arranged in line with the bore of thechute. Such channel has a front wall 48 in which a pair of spaced apartrods 49 are s'l'ida'b'ly mounted and which rods carry a I ure '7.

Loosely disposed, within the channels 44 are follower blocks 54, havingopenings through which the rods 49 may move without moving the blocks54, to thereby guard against unauthorized operation, heads beingprovided on the rods 49 rearwardly of the followers 54. Such followers54 extend upwardly through openings 56 in the top of the channel members44 and are arranged in engagement with the blocks 43 on the cranks 42.As best shown in Figure '7, the shelf 45 has a slot 57 therethrough.

In the event a coin such as 58 is deposited in the chute 46 of any ofthe coin controlled devices, it will pass through slot 47 and betweenthe rods 49 and blocks 50 and 54, resting on the adjacent portion of theshelf 45. Due to the presence of the coin 58, inward pushing of theplunger 51 will move the coin 58 rearwardly and accordingly the follower54 rearwardly, rocking the crank 42, rod 40 and arm 39, elevating thedetent 35 into the dotted line position shown in Figure 9 whereuponturning of the crank 32 in a counter-clockwise direction will operatethe tray 19 to vend one of the bottles or other goods 12, the samefalling down the wall 27 into the tray 28 for removal by the purchaser.When lever 38 is turned by shaft 40 (with reference to Figure 10) thestraight edge shown at the left engages spring 41 so as to be held inthat position and thus keep detent 35 out of engagement with extension33 on shaft 24. Then when shaft 24 is turned, spring 41 is cammed to oneside by abutment 32 so as to release lever 38. At the same time, it willbe realized that such forward movement of the plunger will cause thecoin 58 to move off of the solid portion of shelf 45 and fall throughthe slot 57 and into a suitable coin receptacle 60, under lock controlof the proprietor.

Simultaneously with a vending movement as described due to the rotationof shaft 24 in a counter-clockwise direction, a check 60 is ejected froma tube 61, through slot 62 provided through such tube and casing 31,into tills or trays 63. Such checks 60 are used by the customer inoperating the machine upon the return of an empty bottle thereto so asto obtain its value in money. In order to eject the check 60, an ejectoror plunger 64 is slidably mounted and guided on the bottom of the casing31, having a forward reduced portion '65 which moves through a slot 66into the tube61 and engages the lowermost check of the pile therein, theportion being of the same height or thickness of the check. Links 67 and68 are pivoted at 69 and 70, respectively, within each casing 31, and apin and slot connection at 71 connects the links 67 to the ejector 64.Pin

71 also has a link 72 pivoted thereto which is connected by a pin andslot connection at 73 to the lower end of link '68. A cam '74 isfastened to the shaft 24. Shaft 24 is normally in retracted position andurged thereto by a contractile spring 1 75 secured to the same and tothe casing 31, the cam normally being in the position shown in Figure 8.The swinging of cam 74 upon rotation of shaft 24, moves the cam intoengagement with link 6'7, thus moving ejector 64 to the dotted line i fposition at the left in Figure 8, thereby ejecting a check 60'. Upon thereturn of the arm 24 to normal position, such cam engages the link 68and retracts the same and moves it to the full line position of Figure8.

Empty bottles are adapted to be returned to the machine through ahorizontal chute 80 located at the rear of the machine and at the innerend communicating with the receptacle R as best shown in Figure 3. Theempty bottles are deposited through an insert opening at 81 and rest ina vertical position on the base of such chute 80 and against arcuatearms 82 of a vertically disposed placing lever 83, as well shown inFigures 11 and 12. by operating a crank 84 thereon. Figure 11illustrates the lever 83 in full lines in normal positionand one of thebottles in dotted lines, such parts also being shown in the posit-ion towhich they are moved by the lever 83. Successive bottles will cause thesame to be moved through the chute 80 and into the receptacle R, thesame first falling onto a buffer plate 88 hinged at 89 and located atthe entrance to the receptacle R, being yieldingly held in uppermostposition by a contractile spring 90 fastened thereto and to an adjacentpart of the machine. The plate 88 breaks the force of the bottlesentering the receptacle R and prevents breaking thereof.

As the bottles slide along the chute 80, they en- Lever 83 is adapted tobe turned ii gage a lever 91 pivoted at 92 to the chute and operable ina slot 93 provided in the adjacent wall of such chute. Adjacent suchslot 93, a coin return casing 94 is fastened to the chute and to thecabinet.

Within the casing 94 is a channel member 95 with the interior of which achute 96 communicates, the same serving for the deposit of the checks69'. Such checks 69 upon entering the channel member 95 remain vertical,supported from below on the bottom wall 9'7 of the casing 94. andbetween rods 98 having a block 99 fixed thereto but moving freely and.loosely in an ejector block 100. Such ejector block 100 however isslidable in the channel 95 and in the presence of such check 60', willmove forward so that a portion 101 thereof may enter a coin tube 102,and eject the lowermost coin through a slot 103. In the event the coindeposited into the machine for the purchase of a bottle of goods is adime, the coins in the tube 102 may be nickels, thus giving thepurchaser a nickel in exchange for the empty bottle, the constructionproviding against the malicious placing of other empty bottles into themachine since the check 60' is necessary in order to obtain one of thecoins in the tube 102. A linl; 104 is pivoted to lever 91 and also tothe rods 98 and a contractile coil spring 105 is fastened to the lever91 and to the casing 94, serving to normally urge the lever 91 into thepath of movement of the bottles. The check 60 initially rests on thewall 97 but as the lever 91 operates, the blocks 99 and 100 move toejecting position and bring the check 69 over a slot in the Wall 97 at106, through which it falls into a collecting tray at 107, under lockcontrol by the proprietor.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spiritand scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A machine of the class described having a turnable operating shaft,coin controlled means therefor, means to eject a commodity through theoperation of said shaft, means operable through said rotation to eject acheck, consisting of a cam on said shaft, a check ejecting plunger, andlink means connected to the plunger having a pair of links between whichthe cam is disposed and engageable by the cam in order to actuate theplunger.

2. In a coin controlled mechanism, a detent, releasing means therefor, amovable block, a pair of rods rigid with the block and slidably mountedin a wall of the mechanism, an actuating element on the rods exteriorlyof the mechanism, a follower adapted to actuate said releasing means,said follower being movable on said rods and said rods being movableindependently of the follower, said block and follower being spacedwhereby a coin may be received between the same and between the rods toenable movement of the follower with the rods and block.

3. In a coin controlled mechanism, a detent, releasing means therefor, amovable block, a pair of rods rigid with the block and slidably mountedin a wall of the mechanism, an actuating element on the rods exteriorlyof the mechanism, a follower adapted to actuate said releasing means,said follower being movable on said rods and said rods being movableindependently of the follower, said block and follower being spacedwhereby a coin may be received between the same and between the rods toenable movement of the follower with the rods and. block, and anexpansive spring surrounding one of said rods and engaging the actuatingelement and said wall.

4. In a coin controlled mechanism, a detent, releasing means therefor, achannel member having a slot in its upper wall and having a front wall,a movable block disposed in the channel member, a pair of rods rigidwith the block and. slidably mounted through said wall, an actuatingelement on the rods exteriorly of the mechanism, a return springsurrounding one of the rods and engaging said actuating element and saidwall, a follower in the channel 105 member extending through and abovesaid slot to coact with said releasing means, said follower beingmovable on said rods and said rods being movable independently or" thefollower, said block and follower being spaced whereby a coin may bereceived between the same and between the rods to enable movement of thefollower with the rods and block.

5. A device of the class described having a turnable actuating shaft, alug on said shaft, a lever disposed adjacent said lug and normallypreventing operation of the shaft, a spring, a second lever, and coincontrolled means operable to actuate the second lever to move the firstlever out of the path of movement of said lug and to move the secondlever into detaining engagement with said spring.

6. A device of the class described having a turnable actuating shaft, alug on said shaft, a lever disposed adjacent said lug and normallypreventing operation of the shaft, a spring, a second lever, coincontrolled means operable to actuate the second lever to move the firstlever out of the path of movement of said lug and to move the secondlever into detaining engagement with said spring, and means on theoperating shaft to subsequently engage the spring to cause release ofthe second mentioned lever.

SANDY I-I. LOVE.

